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Sturgis Motorcycle Rally

Motorcycles

Photograph by Andrew Owen, American Festivals Project

In August 2009, the American Festivals Project headed north to Sturgis, South Dakota, home of the annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Motorcycle fans have been returning to Sturgis every August since the “Rally in the Black Hills” began in 1940.

Royal Ras

The Royal Ras, a Rastafarian motorcycle club from Albuquerque, New Mexico, made its first trip to Sturgis in 2009.

Gathering

Photograph by Ross McDermott, American Festivals Project

After a day of riding, bikers meet up to grab a drink, listen to live music, and catch up with friends.

Stunt Rider

Photograph by Andrew Owen, American Festivals Project

Kevin Marino of the Starboyz stunt team does a trick for the Sturgis crowd.

Motorcyclists

Photograph by Ross McDermott, American Festivals Project

Even on lower Main Street in Deadwood, 30 minutes west of Sturgis, the scene is the same: Motorcycles prowl the streets while onlookers jockey for a good view.

Street Vendor

Photograph by Andrew Owen, American Festivals Project

Inedible plastic grapes add a bit of decoration to a street vendor’s display of gyro platters and bratwurst.

Motorcyclist

Photograph by Andrew Owen, American Festivals Project

Nearly 400,000 people attended Rally Week in 2009, including this Harley-Davidson rider. That's down from the largest attendance—more than 600,000 in 2003.

Lighted Cross

Photograph by Ross McDermott, American Festivals Project

Because of Sturgis’s reputation for licentious behavior, it’s an annual destination for Christian ministries and evangelicals hoping to spread the gospel. This man walked tens of thousands of miles across the U.S. preaching about Christianity.

Rally Week Souvenirs

Photograph by Ross McDermott, American Festivals Project

There is no lack of rally souvenirs—t-shirts, bumper stickers, mugs, and more—for riders looking to part with their money.

Parked Motorcycles

Photograph by Ross McDermott, American Festivals Project

Though many attendees spend the day riding through the Black Hills to Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial, there is always a crowd on Sturgis's Main Street, where parked motorcycles form a spine down the center of the street.